Package for tumblers and the like

ABSTRACT

An improved package for storing, transporting, and displaying articles such as tumblers is disclosed. The package has a bottom tray preferably formed of shaped plastic having spaced cups or nests for receiving the bottoms of tumblers of differing sizes. A stem extends upwardly from the central portion of the bottom tray through the tumblers to an adjustably positioned top also formed of shaped plastic. The package top includes several tumbler separating members or rim grips which extend downwardly from the top to hold tumblers of differing sizes spaced from one another and firmly positioned on the bottom tray.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,760,974 Oglesbee Sept. 25, 1973 PACKAGE FOR TUMBLERS AND THE LIKE 3.410.398 11/1968 Ameson 206/65 CT 0 '11 [75] Inventor: Richard K- og b e caste 3,655,089 4/l97.. Tower 0/42 A Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. [73] Assignee: Anchor Hocking Corporation, ,4 N N H n Lancaster, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 205,270 An improved package for storing, transporting, and displaying articles such as tumblers is disclosed. The pack- 52 us. c1 220/2333, 206/65 R, 21 1/74 *t g Preferably 93 51 Int. Cl... B65d 21/02, A47g 19/00, B65d 85/62 M space 9 i e toms of tumblers of differing sizes. A stem extends up- [58] Field of Search 206/65 CT, 65 R, I wardly from the central portion of the bottom tray 206/65 C, 220/23.4, 23.83, 42 A, 102, 106,

through the tumblers to an ad ustably positioned top 224/48 A, 211/74, 215/37 also formed of shaped plastic. The package top inludes several tumbler separating members or rim grips [56] References Cited c which extend downwardly from the top to hold tum- UNITED STATES PATENTS blers of differing sizes spaced from one another and i gtggri firmly positioned on the bottom tray. 872:274 11 1907 Bi'OOkS........................: 211/74 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures lI/III/I IIIjI/I/III/I PATENTEUSEFZSISB ans-0,974

"-sumaur PACKAGE FOR TUMBLERS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved package of the type used both for packaging and for displaying items such as tumblers or similar articles. More particularly, the invention provides an attractively shaped plastic package including a lower tray for containing the bottoms of a group of articles and an adjustably attached top or cover which separates the several articles and which holds them firmly in position on the lower tray.

This application is an improvement of my copending application Ser. No. 88,81l which was filed on Nov. 12, 1970 and which is now issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,830 dated Sept. 26, 1972.

Modern merchandising methods make increasing use of multiple purpose packages which are efficient and strong enough for storing and shipping articles such as glass tumblers and the like and which at the same time comprise attractive article display means which may be placed directly on the retailers display shelves. A variety of containers or cartons of this type have been produced which have been formed as folded paper board boxes. Such folded cartons, when utilized for this dual purpose, are relatively complex both in their shape and in their method of filling and erection so that they tend to cost appreciably more than normal shipping containers.

The container in accordance with the present invention combines secure storage and shipment capability with an exceptionally attractive display design in a carton which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture as well as to load or fill. A preferred form of the'package includes a shaped plastic base formed from plastic and a top portion also preferably shaped or stylized for being formed by injection or other plastic molding methods.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved display or shipping carton for articles such as tumblers and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong yet lightweight shipping and display package for glass articles such as tumblers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and attractive shipping and display con-tainer for articles such as tumblers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display package for tumblers and the like which is useful for differing sized tumblers and which may be packed either automatically or by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved waterproof and moisture resistant package for plastic, glass, or similar articles.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will beindicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the package in accordance with the invention.

FIG; 2 is an exploded perspective illustrating the three principal portions of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 showing a tumbler locked in position betwee the package top and base.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the package top illustrating the action of the article engaging members for a number of differing article sizes.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the base illustrating the action of the variable plug portions in engaging an article with a particular bottom diameter.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the base illustrating its engagement with a larger article than that illustrated in FIG. 5.

A preferred embodiment of the package is illustrated at 20 in FIGS. 1 through 6. This embodiment is characterized by the use of an elongated stem 21 for adjustably connecting a base 22 to a top 23 with the packaged articles such as tumblers 24 (FIG. 3) gripped between the top 23 and the base 22. The base 22, stem 21, and top 23 of this embodiment are conveniently formed as molded plastic members formed of a high strength, impact resistant, attractive plastic such as polystyrene or other plastics.

The assembled package is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 withthe stem 21 passing through an aperture 25in the center portion 26 of the base 22 and adjustably engaging a similar aperture 27 at the center portion 28 of the top 23. FIG. 3 shows the tumber 24 in position with the base of the tumbler 24 contained in a cup-like article engaging portion 29 of the base 22 and with the rim 30 of the tumbler 24 engaged by grips3l depending downwardly from the package top 23.

The base 22 may be molded as a single unit including the apertured center portion 26 and the outwardly po-' sitioned article engaging portions 29 which have a cuplike form including a rim 32. The base 22 is conveniently molded as a single unit and this method of manufacture is adapted to the positioning of short flange members 33 at spaced positions on the article engaging rims 32. These flanges 33 are formed by using removable plugs in the mold used to form the base. Thus, the base mold would include a number of slots corresponding to the flanges. During the molding operation, a plug may be inserted in all or a portion of the slot to control the flange size. This feature is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 where three flanges 33 are provided of a length to engage spaced portions of a container rim having a circumference shown by the circle 34. Where the package 20 is to be used fora tumbler having a different size bottom, these flanges 33 may be completely eliminated in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 or they may be made of a different length by changing the size of the plugs inserted into the mold slots.

The top 23 is also conveniently molded as a single member including the stem engaging aperture 27. Downwardly depending ribs 35 are preferably provided on the underside of the top 23 which act to stiffen the top 23 as well as to provide a rim support for tumblers having relatively large rims which would correspond to the circle 36 on FIG. 4. In addition to the ribs 35, a number of the downwardly depending rim grips 31 are also provided on the underside of the top 23. These grips 31 are positioned as illustrated in FIG. 4 to engage tumbler rims of diflering diameters. A pair of the grips 31 adjacent the ribs 35 are seen to engage either the larger tumbler corresponding to ring 36 or a smaller tumbler rim corresponding to the ring 38. The additional grips 31f are useful in providing a grip or a support for a smaller tumbler rim of the size defined by the inner ring 39 on FIG. 4. It is, therefore, seen thatthe use of a number of depending ribs or grips 31 and 31 on a package top 23 will provide for the packaging of tumblers of a number of difierent sizes. The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, will accommodate three differing tumbler sizes.- Other arrangements of ribs or grips may be provided using molded plugs in a number of spaced mold slots for manufacturing packages to handle other tumblers with differing rim sizes.

A preferred embodiment of the connecting stem 21 comprises a splined member where the outer edges of the splines such as the four splines 40 illustrated in the drawing, frictionally engage the sidewalls of the base and top apertures 25 and 27. A button 41 is provided at the bottom of the stem 21 to position the stern in the base 22. While a satisfactory connection may be obtained by using a friction fit between the stem 21 and the base 22 and top 23, a plastic solvent or cement may alternately be applied where a particular package must tightly grip the packaged articles. The solvent or cement need be only lightly applied so'that the connection may be snapped apart by the purchaser.

The above described package is seen to provide a secure and adjustable tumbler mounting which, at the same time, provides for an attractive package providing for a maximum exposure of the packaged tumblers. A package results which may be conveniently fitted within a larger corrugated board or other container for storage and shipment and which may thereafter be removed as a unit for display by a retailer. The customer similarly may pick up and inspect the tumblers without opening or otherwise destroying the package and he may take the tumblers home as a unit and may continue to use the package for future storage.

It is, therefore seen a lightweight, strong and attractive package has been provided for tumblers or similar articles. The package is seen to be both inexpensive and adjustable and to be adapted for manufacture from inexpensive molded plastic portions. The resulting package is easily loaded using hand or automatic packaging operations and the preferred material give a mois moisture resistant package which may be stored in either moist or dry areas.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the shit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An improved package for rimmed articles comprising the combination of:

a molded plastic base having a plurality of uniformly spaced article receiving cups thereon and having a hollow central portion positioned inwardly of said cups;

a first cylindrical aperture at the center of said central 13 tion;

a molded plastic cover plate;

a second cylindrical aperture at the center of said cover plate having the same cross-section as said first aperture;

an elongated stem having a plurality of longitudinal splines frictionally engaging the side walls of the apertures in said base and in said cover plate and adjustably connecting said cover plate to said base with a plurality of articles positioned between said cover plate and said base;

a plurality of separator members extending downwardly from said cover plate engaging outer portions of the article rims; and

a plurality of downwardly directed rim grips on said cover plate positioned outwardly of said separator members engaging inner portions of the article rims.

2. The plastic package as claimed in claim 1 in which said article receiving cups have semi-circular side walls with the open ends of the side walls terminating in straight flange sections.

11 3" UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3.760.974 Dated September 25, 19?} Inventor s) RICHARD K OGLEBEE It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 20, "tral 15 tion" should read --tra1 pOItiOIjr-n Signed andQse-a1ed this i Z Sth' day of Dec ember 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLET(;HER,JR. I I RENE D; TEGTMEYER Attestlng Offlcer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. An improved package for rimmed articles comprising the combination of: a molded plastic base having a plurality of uniformly spaced article receiving cups thereon and having a hollow central portion positioned inwardly of said cups; a first cylindrical aperture at the center of said central 13 tion; a molded plastic cover plate; a second cylindrical aperture at the center of said cover plate having the same cross-section as said first aperture; an elongated stem having a plurality of longitudinal splines frictionally engaging the side walls of the apertures in said base and in said cover plate and adjustably connecting said cover plate to said base with a plurality of articles positioned between said cover plate and said base; a plurality of separator members extending downwardly from said cover plate engaging outer portions of the article rims; and a plurality of downwardly directed rim grips on said cover plate positioned outwardly of said separator members engaging inner portions of the article rims.
 2. The plastic package as claimed in claim 1 in which said article receiving cups have semi-circular side walls with the open ends of the sidE walls terminating in straight flange sections. 